‘Uncooperative’ Ermita officials to face probe

THE Cebu City government will look into the possible liability of Ermita barangay officials following the discovery of a shabu den near the barangay hall by the National Bureau of Investigation regional office (NBI-7).

NBI Special Investigator Larry Dominguez said barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta did not cooperate with them.

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act requires the presence of barangay officials in drug raids.

“He did not even sign the inventory report. He didn’t want to cooperate. I don’t think he knows what his work is about. The good thing was one of the barangay councilmen signed the inventory report,” Dominguez said.

The NBI conducted surveillance in the area to verify reports of illegal drug activities in the barangay. Dominguez said the drug den was located 30 meters from the barangay hall.
“These groups are considered untouchables in that area,” he said.

Taken from the suspects were 121 small plastic packs suspected to contain shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will wait for the NBI report on the raid.

“I cannot conclude. Liability has to be looked into. There is an ongoing NBI investigation and the issue on barangay officials will be part of their report,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Rupinta, in a telephone interview, said it is unfair to say that they did not cooperate with the NBI because he sent his barangay tanods to escort the raiding team.

Labella said he was saddened by the discovery of the shabu tiangge (bargain market) in Ermita and the NBI operation should not also be construed as inaction on the part of the police.

Both the NBI and the police sit in the weekly meeting of the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) which he presides.

PCAC, Labella said, has made it a policy to respect the operations of the different law enforcement units to ensure the success of their operations.

The Cebu City Hall employee who was arrested with 28 others during the raid may lose his job.

“Considering that he is a job-order employee, I will recommend to Mayor Michael Rama that he be dropped from the rolls in my capacity as PCAC chairman,” Labella said.

The employee, Rodelito Gabijie, is a staffer of Councilor Richard Osmeña.

Gabijie allegedly transacted with an NBI undercover agent who posed as a buyer during Monday’s buy-bust operation.

The NBI will file today illegal drug charges against the 29 arrested people.

NBI 7 Regional Director Max Salvador said they are still finding out who is the owner of the drug den.